Artworks showing the harrowing impact of the Hiroshima atomic bombing are to be displayed for the first time in the UK.

The powerful paintings, created by the "hibakusha" or survivors of the nuclear bomb that was nicknamed Little Boy, will be shown at the Manchester Art Gallery as part of its major Sensory War exhibition from October to February 2015.

The work, which was created in the 1970s, has never been seen before in Britain.

Fumiko Ya: Hospital 1973-74(Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum)

The controversial nuclear bombing of Hiroshima on the morning of 6 August, in 1945, killed between 60,000 and 80,000 people instantly. The final death toll was 135,000 as thousands died later from radiation sickness.

Not only were Hiroshima residents affected but also Koreans who were sent as labourers and American prisoners-of-war.

Yoshiko Michitsuji, aged 48 at the time of drawing. I ran towards my house through a sea of flames(Hibakusha Works: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum)

Another bomb nicknamed Fat Man was dropped in nearby Nagasaki, an important port, which killed another 40,000 people and destroyed a third of the city. The final death toll was 50,000.

According to historian, J. Samuel Walker, there were several reasons US president Harry S Truman decided to bomb Japan. Firstly, to bring an immediate end to the war with the fewest number of US casualties, secondly to assert its military capacity over the Soviets and lastly as a response to Pearl Harbour. He has been quoted as saying: "When you have to deal with a beast you have to treat him as a beast."

Masahiko Nakata, age 72 at the time of drawing. Bloated bodies in the river over Yokogawa Bridge, 1973-74(Hibakusha Works: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum)

But the ethical and military grounds of the bombing are still debated today when it seemed clear that Japan was losing the war.

Gisaku Tanaka aged 72 at the time of drawing. Lights blinking on in the atomic desert(Hibakusha Works: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum)